GEOG 870 - Capstone in GIS
This is a sample syllabus.
This sample syllabus is a representative example of the information and materials included in this course. Information about course assignments, materials, and dates listed here is subject to change at any time. Definitive course details and materials will be available in the official course syllabus, in Canvas, when the course begins.
Overview
This capstone course develops Master in Geographic Information Systems (MGIS) students’ research and technical competencies to meet degree requirements and to serve their future career goals. Students completing this course will synthesize the learning they have completed in their previous MGIS coursework and develop an applied spatial analysis project that utilizes contemporary methods, technologies, and data sources to solve a problem in their field. In this course, students will use discussion forums, create presentations, perform directed independent research, collaboratively critique their peers’ research, and write a scholarly paper.
This course is the culminating experience for the MGIS program, allowing students the opportunity to demonstrate their academic skills to apply what they have learned towards developing new insights to a geographic information challenge.
Objectives
At the conclusion of this course, students will be able to:
- Demonstrate the technical and analytical competencies required to effectively design, manage, and apply spatial, analytical and visual technologies to develop insights to a challenge in the GIScience field,
- Architect insights that advance the application of geographic information systems to address a challenge in the GIScience field by leveraging and integrating contemporary cartographic and spatial analysis frameworks,
- Communicate spatial data quality and spatial analysis technical knowledge, including ideas, designs, data analysis, findings, or decision justification in appropriate written, oral, and graphic presentation formats,
- Demonstrate proficiency in geographic information systems to define a challenge, create, and implement analytical insights addressing that challenge within a GIScience domain, and
- Practice spatial analysis, leveraging advances in geographic information systems to develop an ethically responsible and reproducible workflow to solve a geographic challenge.
Required Materials
The materials listed here represent those that may be included in this course. Students will find a definitive list in the course syllabus, in Canvas, when the course begins.
Required Textbooks
- Little Quick Fix: Research Question, by Zina O’Leary
- Little Quick Fix: Turn Your Literature Review into an Argument, by Robert Thomas
- Little Quick Fix: Choose your Methodology, by Charlotte Jane Whiffin
- Little Quick Fix: Present Your Research, by Zina O’Leary
Software
Software and data used will be specific to students’ research projects.
Prerequisites
GEOG 583: Geospatial System Analysis and Design, GEOG 586: Geographic Information Analysis, and GEOG 871: Geospatial Technology Project Management
Expectations
We have worked hard to make this the most effective and convenient educational experience possible. How much and how well you learn is dependent on your attitude, diligence, and willingness to ask for clarifications or help when you need them. We are here to help you succeed. Please keep up with the class schedule and take advantage of opportunities to communicate with us and with your fellow students. You can expect to spend an average of 12 – 15 hours per week on class work.
Major Assignments
Students earn grades that reflect the extent to which they achieve the learning objectives listed above. Opportunities to demonstrate learning include the following deliverables, and grades will be based on points assigned to each of several components of the course as follows:
- Peer assessment activities (15%)
- Initial project proposal summary (5%)
- Annotated bibliography (5%)
- Literature review (5%)
- Project methodology (10%)
- Proposal paper (10%)
- Proposal presentation (10%)
- Final project presentation (15%)
- Final project paper (25%)
Course Schedule
| Week | Topic | Assignment |
|---|---|---|
| Week 1: Define Your Research | Identify and describe capstone project idea |
|
| Week 2: Review the Literature | Summarize existing literature relevant to your topic from appropriate sources (journal articles, websites, etc.), using it to refine your project proposal. |
|
| Week 3: Review the Literature continued | Continue to summarize existing literature relevant to your topic from appropriate sources (journal articles, websites, etc.), using it to refine your project proposal. |
|
| Week 4 - 5: Data Gathering and Identifying a Methodology | Locate data needed for your capstone project Identify methods and analysis Summarize needed technologies for your capstone project |
|
| Week 6: Writing Your Capstone Proposal | Consolidate earlier deliverables into a complete formal project proposal |
|
| Week 7: Presenting Your Capstone Proposal | Develop an oral presentation of your research proposal Provide feedback to classmates on their proposal presentations |
|
| Weeks 8: Data Analysis | Use proposed methods to work on project Peer review | - |
| Week 9: Data Analysis continued | Use proposed methods to work on project Peer review | - |
| Week 10: Data Analysis continued | Use proposed methods to work on project Peer review |
|
| Week 11: Data Analysis continued | Use proposed methods to work on project Peer review | - |
| Week 12: Data Analysis continued | Use proposed methods to work on project Peer review |
|
| Weeks 13-15: Summarize Your Work | Complete project Write a summary of your project results Develop an oral presentation of your project results |
|
| Week 16: Moving Forward | - | - |